It was so much a habit to follow her around in the minds of others that I had to actively keep my mind from drifting that direction, but I couldn't break my promise to her just after I'd made it. Her gentle scolding had given me pause.

Even when I'd just been created I'd thought of my ability to read minds as something to be relieved about. With secrets to hide and new worlds to navigate it gave me an upper hand. Sure, in later years, as I attended high school over and over I had stopped being so interested in the thoughts of others. But I'd still dipped into the mind of everyone who was directly talking to me, and that went double for anyone I thought interesting for any reason. Honestly, until Bella, I'd never felt guilty about my ability.

But what she'd said to me had struck a chord. Bella, coming from a childhood of what sounded like constant surveillance, was asking me for her privacy. She'd asked me to tell Alice not to check up on her again. Told me, directly, to stay out of the minds of those around her - at least as far as them interacting with her was concerned. And, as difficult as it would be to come down from my pedestal of semi-omniscience, I could see her point.

More than that, I wanted to do whatever it was she asked of me. I'd do anything that could possibly make her trust me and want to be closer to me as I wanted to be closer to her.

So it was that, for the first time in a long time, I kept my mind to myself. I could have read the minds of those around me, of course, but why bother? None of them were as interesting as Bella, or even as interesting as trying to imagine what she was doing right now and how her conversation with Jessica would go.

Finally it was lunch time. I strode quickly through the halls; I had long since memorized Bella's schedule and knew exactly where to find her.

This was one of the classes she shared with Jessica, and it was Jessica who came through the door first. She caught sight of me, leaning against the wall across from the door, and her eyes went wide. That does it. I knew she was lying. They are dating!

I didn't smile at her thoughts - not reacting to thoughts was something I'd had to practice - but I did smile a moment later, because Bella had followed her friend out and caught sight of me herself. She smiled right back, and I was warmed through.

"See you later, Bella," Jessica said in a voice heavy with meaning. No more beating around the bush. Next class we're in, she's giving me ALL the details.

"Bye," Bella said absently, apparently more focused on me than her friend.

We fell into step beside each other, heading for the cafeteria. I noticed we were collecting a few stares and my smile grew. I enjoyed being seen with Bella.

Once inside Bella started heading to a back corner where there were some empty tables, but stopped, looking up at me. "Don't you need to get some food?"

"I'll skip it for today." I was far too impatient to take the time and effort that the illusion of eating lunch required.

Soon we were seated at a table by ourselves, me across from her. We'd passed my family on the way, but all of them had studiously ignored me, even Alice. I didn't care. I watched impatiently as Bella rummaged in her backpack for her lunch. She wasn't looking at me as she spread out her food and prepared to eat.

Well, if she wasn't going to start this conversation, I could. "So Jessica thinks we're dating."

Bella looked up at me sharply, but her expression soon softened. "She was thinking that as she left, wasn't she." I nodded, and Bella sighed. "Are you upset?"

"I'm not going to be upset with you for something Jessica thinks," I said gently. Never mind that I might wish it was true myself.

"But I couldn't get her to stop thinking it! I kept looking in her mind and trying to adjust what I was saying, but she'd already decided."

I shrugged. "What's more important is that she doesn't know what we were really talking about that night."

"I guess." Bella was blushing a little.

"What's that blush for?"

The blush intensified, and Bella looked down at her food. She carefully picked up her sandwich and took a bite.

"Bella," I groaned. "You promised."

"I know." Bella put down the sandwich and clasped her hands together. "It's just - it's embarrassing."

"What is?" Now I was really curious.

Bella went to bite her lip, then stopped herself. "Um. Jessica, she..." she took a deep breath, then the words poured out of her in a rush. "She's jealous. She wants to be the one dating you. And when I realized that, I... I didn't want... I wanted her to think she didn't have a chance. Because she doesn't."

A smile tugged at the corner of my mouth. "Are you saying that when you realized she wanted to date me, you stopped trying to convince her we weren't?" She nodded. My smile grew. "Maybe she's not wrong."

Bella looked up at me, confusion in her eyes. "What do you mean?"

I gestured to the two of us. "We're sitting together at lunch after I drove us to school. We had dinner last night and I drove you home. We're going over to your house after school, and will likely be doing so at least once or twice a week for the foreseeable future. Doesn't that sound like we're dating?"

"I guess," Bella muttered, looking down at the table again, her blush fading. She looked uncomfortable. "I'm sorry."

I didn't know whether to laugh or to sigh. "What on earth are you sorry for?"

"I - I didn't want to - I know you don't -" She pressed her lips together, seeming to give up on forming a coherent sentence.

I stared at her curiously. Didn't want to what? Knew I didn't what? "Bella, what are you trying to say?"

She sighed sharply, running a hand through her hair. "You and I have enough secrets, enough things we have to pretend," she said hesitantly. "I didn't mean to add something else."

All at once I understood. I'd thought I'd been making my feelings and desires fairly clear, but of course I should have anticipated that Bella wouldn't see things the same way I did.

"Bella." I waited until her reluctant eyes met mine, and I calmly held her gaze. "I really don't mind if people think we're dating."

She blushed again, fading blush blending into the new one. "Why - why not?"

"Because I like you."

Bella's eyes went wide, and she held perfectly still, staring at me. "You do?" she whispered. I nodded, a little hesitantly. "Oh." She looked down at table. "Oh."

No nervous movements. The blush was fading. Even her heart was calming from her earlier racing. It was my turn to fidget. What would she say?

"Edward." Her voice was quiet. "I have no idea how to date someone."

I let out a breath. Was that a dismissal, a refusal, or was she just being honest? "What do you want to do about that?"

"What?" She looked at me now, her brows pulled together.

"Well…" I swallowed. "Do you want to try to figure it out?"

She looked back down at the table, picking at her food again. I waited an agonizing few moments but it didn't seem that she was going to say anything.

"Please, talk to me, Bella."

Bella propped her elbows on the table, burying her face in her hands. "Do you realize what you're saying? Do you realize what we are?"

"Friends?" I said, a weak attempt at a joke.

Unexpectedly, Bella laughed. "Well, yeah. But I was thinking more about the - if anyone back in Arizona knew -"

"But we're already friends," I pointed out. "How different would it be if we just... get a little closer?"

Bella took a deep breath, lifting her head, trying but failing to meet my eyes. "I'm not saying no. But... if I would ever say yes... it's not yet."

"Okay." This wasn't the response I'd hoped for, but I still felt happy. I could handle not yet. I'd already done a lot of waiting for Bella. I could wait a little longer.

Bella went back to her lunch, as if eager to put an end to the conversation. I allowed myself to be distracted by it, looking at her food myself. The sandwich I understood, but it was accompanied by what looked like twisted bits of leather. "Is that - jerky?" I asked, finding the name somewhere in my mind.

"Yeah," Bella said, sounding relived to have a change of subject. "It's hard to have a meat-heavy diet when I have to pack it up."

"Then... do you have to eat like the animal you're born as?" I asked. I could easily let the former conversation go if I got to learn more about her.

Bella nodded. "Kinda. Most shifters can get away with pretty much eating like a human, but since I spend so much time in wolf form I have to eat a lot more like a wolf."

"What animals can other shifters change into?"

Bella shrugged. "I heard it could be anything, but everyone I've met was some kind of mammal. There are a lot of shifters in Asia and Africa, so there's tigers, and leopards, maybe some elephants.." She looked up at me speculatively. "Shifters only recently started gathering in the Americas, and we're in the south. I guess that's how your family has been kept in the dark."

"Kept in the dark?" The way she phrased it sounded like it was deliberate.

She nodded. "You vampires have some kind of leader group, don't you? They know about us; there's been some kind of treaty or something between them and the shifters. So if your family talks to that group at all, then they chose to not tell you."

"That does sound like something Aro might do," I said slowly, thinking about the various dangerous personalities in the Vultura. "Especially since we feed on animals. He might have been hoping one of us would accidentally attack a shifter. He would love watching what happened."

Bella shook her head. "Is he trying to start a war?"

That was a sobering thought.

"We're at a disadvantage," Bella continued. "You vampires can create more of you whenever you want, but we have to wait and see. So shifters have been expanding more and more all over the wold to try to catch and train more shifters... just in case."

A question occurred to me. A rather embarrassing one, but I asked anyway, wanting to get away from the heavy topic we'd wandered into. "So... you shifters... you can't have children?"

Bella looked at me, her head tilted to the side. "How would that be possible? We change forms all the time. It wouldn't work."

The bell rang then, and Bella jumped. She laughed a little at herself, and I laughed with her. "Time for class," I said, a little regretfully. I wanted to keep talking to her. But at least we had the next class together.

Bella was getting better in biology; she rarely needed my help, and occasionally doodled in her notes. I found this just as fascinating as everything else she did. She drew various things; mostly flowers, but occasionally people or landscapes. Today she drew something that looked slightly familiar - it might be her view of the forest from her back door.

We walked together to her last class. Outside the gym we stopped and faced each other, as we had done earlier today at her first class. "I'll see you after class?" Bella asked, looking a little uncertain.

I had to smile. How long would it take her to realize I'd be here as long as she wanted? As long as she'd let me? "I'll meet you here," I said.

She smiled, a little shyly. "See you then."

"See you." I watched her as she turned and headed into the locker rooms.

Not caring to hurry, I reached the Spanish classroom just before the bell rang. I headed for my usual seat in the back next to Emmett. I read his mind as I approached, worried about what he'd be thinking after being around Rosalie for hours, but he greeted me with a smile. Hey bro.

I nodded in response, only realizing I was still smiling when I saw my face in Emmett's mind. You're awfully happy for someone who's on everyone's bad list right now.

"Mostly just Rosalie's," I replied in a barely audible murmur. "Alice is pretty happy."

You're on my bad list for making me deal with Rose like this, Emmett thought, though it was clear in his mind that he didn't really care too much. So far it wasn't anything he couldn't handle, especially when it wasn't actually him she was angry with.

But I felt a little guilty anyway. Rosalie and I had always had an uneasy relationship, but we'd never been actively fighting like we were right now. I wondered how long it would take for her to calm down. What if she was still angry when I started introducing Bella to Alice and the others?

I wanted Bella to know my family, to... dare I even hope for it? I might want her to be part of my family. Was it possible? Alice was eager to meet her, Esme wanted to as well, Carlisle was curious... but the others? Jasper? Rosalie?

The end of school bell thankfully released me from my melancholy wondering, and I stood up in a rush. I was already more than ready to see Bella again. Emmett shook his head and sighed. You're pathetic. I didn't care.

It didn't matter how cold my family was, if I could bask in Bella's warmth.

Bella was waiting for me outside the gym, looking a little nervous - or possibly guilty. I was about to ask her what happened, but was distracted as Mike came out of the men's locker room and glared at me hard before turning and marching down the hallway. I hate him, him and his stupid face and his stupid car and his stupid moves. Why did he have to be interested in Bella?

I looked away from him, down to Bella's now curious face. "What?" she asked.

"Mike," I replied. "He's much angrier today than last night."

Bella gave me another one of her brilliant blushes, the tips of her ears turning pink. "Um. Well. He also doesn't believe me when I say you and me aren't dating."

I couldn't help smirking. Mike had won all the early battles, but I had won the war. "Poor guy."

Bella sighed. "And I tried so hard to get him and Jessica together so he'd back off me."

"He can be into Jessica and still upset you're with me."

Bella raised an eyebrow. The blush was already fading. "I'm with you, huh?"

I gestured to the narrow space between us. "Well, yes, girl who's about to walk with me to my car so I can drive her home and help her with her homework."

"Doesn't mean I'm with you." Bella turned away and started heading down the hallway, looking like she was trying to suppress a smile. I caught up with her and we walked in comfortable silence.

"How was gym?" I asked as we settled in my car. I'd remembered the look on her face when I met her in the hallway.

"Terrible," Bella groaned. "Aside from the Mike thing, I hit myself on the head with the racket and hit someone else with the little - the thing - the birdie." She sighed in frustration. "Why does gym have to be a required class?"

"Have you seen the rampant obesity in America?" I asked. "We need to educate our children on proper exercise, lest we all blow up like balloons."

"Okay, so, I spend half of almost every night running around the forest," Bella shot back. "I don't need a stupid class full of stupid sports to keep me fit."

"Do you really?" I asked, curious now.

"Oh yeah," she said. "I already told you, I'm more comfortable as a wolf, but it's weird to be a wolf wandering around a house. I'm much happier in the forest." She gave me a side glance. "It was such a relief when you told me your family never hunts near the town. All those weeks, between you tracking me and us talking, I was too scared to go very far from the house."

"I'm sorry," I said. "Sometimes it seems like I do nothing but cause you trouble."

"You don't just cause me trouble," Bella said, her tone teasing. "Sometimes you help me with my homework."

I laughed, though it sounded strange in my ears. I still wasn't used to the sound of my own laughter.

Once at Bella's house we settled down to her homework. Bella was eager to get caught up on all her classes now that she had a success in one class to give her confidence, and we easily whiled away the house working on math, English, and any other homework she had. We made serious headway, and as twilight approached Bella leaned back in her chair and stretched. "Thank you so much," she said. "I think one or two more days like this, and we can start doing some reading."

I nodded. "I'm happy to help you with whatever you need help with."

"Thanks." Bella gave me a warm smile. "Now, let's get you out of here before Charlie sees you or your car - and so I can take a nap."

She followed me to the door. I lingered on the doorstep, one foot on the porch, one foot still in the doorway. "Should I pick you up for school tomorrow?"

Bella leaned against the doorway. "If you want to."

"Okay, but do you want me to?"

Bella considered a moment, biting her lip. I raised my finger, ready to tap her lip again, but she saw me and smiled instead. I smiled back.

Suddenly her nervousness was gone. She straightened her shoulders. "Yeah, I want you to pick me up tomorrow."

"I'll be here as soon as Chief Swan is gone."

"Thanks."

I took one last look at her before turning to head back to my car.